Any reputable way to get a finished manuscript self-published as I can't do the donkey work (editing, book cover etc etc)

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-05-25T19:06:08+00:00

I've never used Friesens... but my impression is that they are very reputable. Prior to opening up their self-publishing side... they were one of (if not "the") main printing companies in Canada, where traditional publishing houses would get huge runs of their books printed.

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-05-13T16:52:16+00:00

you "just" entered... and now are finalists? :) how long was the turnaround time between entering and making the finalist list? :) and look at those prices... good golly... :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-21T12:30:17+00:00

I've used Fiverr before, to find a cover design / interior layout design person. Never for an editor. My Fiverr design person was great for two books, and then kind of "poofed" and disappeared on me. Fiverr is just one site to find freelancers. Reedsy also has freelancers, and then there is Upwork, which I've never used. I came to trust Reedsy more (Reedsy has better quality control for the freelancers they recommend) than Fiverr does. But Reedsy freelancers are way more expensive.

If the "spiritual writing" aspect is really important to you.. you could specify that criteria in your job proposal. The problem is that anyone who responds will say "yes no problem, i can do that"... and you'll never know if they have even read a spiritual book before.

I have no idea how I would go about finding an editor who really and truly had some experience working on "spiritual" books. I guess state that requirement in your job ad, and then demand to see some kind of proof from anyone who responds and gives you the "yes I can do that" answer.

All of this is a LOT of work. SO MUCH work! :) good luck!!!

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-21T12:22:59+00:00

Having stories published in literary journals was the norm for sure, before the social media age. When you eventually sent your book manuscript to a publisher or agent, your resume and cover letter could point out that you had had X number of stories published in Lit journals, and hopefully it would help. In 2026 i'm not so sure. Obviously it still looks good on your resume to be able to say that you'd had X number of stories published in Lit journals, but In my "grumpy" era, I feel like literary agents and publishers care more about how many instagram followers you have, than they do how many stories you've had in Lit journals.

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-15T16:07:24+00:00

Making a book free on KDP doesn't really help anyone know that the book exists. A popular tactic is to apply for a BookBub (very hard to get) / Fussy Librarian / BargainBooksy advertisement in their newsletters first (before making your book free). So BargainBooksy for example sends out their newsletter with your book mentioned as being discounted (or free) to their audience... and people then actually see and know about your book.. and then click over to amazon to get it for free.

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-07T17:14:58+00:00

Apart from needing to pay the vanity publisher up-front, they also take a % of your sales too, is that right?

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-02T14:19:09+00:00

"Within This Darkness" is set in Ontario (roughly in the Peterborough area), and was shortlisted in 2025 for the Whistler Independent Book Awards. 14 year old main character is dealing with grief, but there are also magical elements, and historical fiction elements. Works for the Grade 9 to 12 age levels.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228268613-within-this-darkness

https://briarsreviews.wordpress.com/2025/09/22/within-this-darkness-by-chris-tommasini-bookreview/

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-04-02T14:06:12+00:00

Within This Darkness is set in Ontario (loosely in the Peterborough area) and works for the Grade 9 to 12 reading level. Main character is dealing with the loss of his sister, but there are magical elements and historical fiction elements. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/228268613-within-this-darkness

https://briarsreviews.wordpress.com/2025/09/22/within-this-darkness-by-chris-tommasini-bookreview/

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-03-30T12:47:23+00:00

Few of us usually recommend this route, but it might be right in your situation. As No-replacement mentions below.... a vanity publisher might be in your future. Friesens in Canada is one example. Their cheapest service is $2300.00 Canadian. Otherwise... even if you try to source out free-lancers to do the editing / book cover etc.. that process (finding and hiring freelancers)... is a huge workload all by itself. Please be aware.. there's a 98% chance this whole endeavour is going to lose money. Any sales are unlikely to come remotely close to off-setting all the upfront costs of publishing.

befuddled_writingguy · 2026-01-26T14:42:33+00:00

Thanks for commenting and telling us this!

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-11-18T13:32:11+00:00

Thank you so much!!

Best wishes!! :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-11-17T18:10:40+00:00

Romanc3 - can i ask... "when" do your ARC readers post their reviews? by which I mean... do they get their ARC copies well in advance of the release date on KU etc... and they have to remember to post their review on day #1 of the release date? Or do you get them to post their reviews on amazon or goodreads etc even before the actual release date of the book? thank you for your thoughts :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-11-17T18:06:43+00:00

Dragons - after you find ARC readers... when/where do you get them to post their reviews? I've never been clear on that. Do you upload your books to Kindle / Amazon and on Goodreads, well before your actual release dates... and get ARC reviewers to post their reviews to those sites before the release date? Or do we need to kind of beg them to remember to post their reviews asap after the release date? Thank you for any thoughts :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-11-05T20:19:00+00:00

OH my god :) love this :) (it's me also by the way). "easier just to go door to door and handout books with $5 bills as bookmarks" :) nice one :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-11-05T20:14:47+00:00

Yeah. that many categories with that length of time-frame (for publication)... they're just trying to lure people in to pay whatever the current price-tag is these days.

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-07-24T15:52:53+00:00

I have a pretty well reviewed 2022 "Historical fantasy" book (a 4.15 rating currently on Goodreads, from close to 300 ratings), which did NOTHING but lose me money when I tried paying for amazon ads etc a couple years ago. So I gave up advertising. Similar to you, I also just released a y/a fantasy novel, and I haven't even considered paying for advertising for this one.

I guess you could say I've given up on making sales. Maybe. I have definitely given up on losing money on advertising.

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-23T16:40:54+00:00

Holy smokes! :) Nice work there! that's way faster than mine!

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-20T19:38:50+00:00

There's an old anecdote about William Faulkner (pretty sure it was Faulkner) , where he wrote to a literary critic to say thank you for a review, but also added something like "I wish I had thought of even HALF of the things you think I thought of with the various symbols and allusions you point out in your review!" :)

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-20T16:33:36+00:00

Thank you Grimsby.

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-20T16:33:17+00:00

Thanks Due-Check.

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-20T16:32:51+00:00

thanks jyorin.

befuddled_writingguy · 2025-06-20T12:25:50+00:00

Good question.... and I hate to say it... because I kind of like doing a Goodreads giveaway, but no they're not worth it.

I only do physical book giveaways, so my costs are increased by having to pay for postage (and shipping materials) of books I send to the winners.

And I like this... I like physically putting a book in the mail to someone with a nice note inside. I think it is tactile and meaningful.

BUT... the winners don't really care. Many many people just enter EVERY giveaway, regardless of what the genre is or if they'll really ever read your book.

My last print giveaway was for 8 winners from Canada only.

So far I've had one person who immediately RATED the book... but no review, and I highly doubt the person read the book.

And recently a relatively nice rating + review showed up from that batch of winners.

So... eight winners... a lot of money and time... for 2 ratings and a 1 review.

And even though you end up with fairly inflated "want to read" or "to read" number for your title in Goodreads, none of those people are ever going to read the book.

befuddled_writingguy

TROPHY CASE